Part 26 You are not guest

Arnav brought Khushi to RM. He stopped the car and got down. Taking the bag from Khushi's hand, he walked in. Khushi followed him. She thought he would ask her to settle down in the guest room but Arnav walked towards the direction where his room was located. Khushi followed him with confusion. He came to the first room of his room. Opening the door, he gave her space to enter. Khushi who entered the room awestruck seeing the room is arranged for her.

"This is your room from here on... make yourself comfortable," Arnav said with a mild smile on his face.

"But... this room is not a guestroom... I suppose..." Khushi asked hesitatingly.

"You are also not our guest I suppose..." Arnav said, maintaining the smile, making her overwhelmed. What did that mean? Did he say she was one among them?

"I don't want you to behave like a guest. You will feel like a guest if you stay in the guestroom. That's why I made this room ready for you. Feel free. Call me if you want anything. you can ask anything. Ok?"

Khushi stared at him blankly without answering. As he didn't get a reply, Arnav flicked his finger which brought her sense back.

"Relax... forget what's disturbing you. I'm here for you" he said adoringly.

"For how long, Arnavji?" she asked sighing.

"What?"

"How long will you be there for me?"

Arnav got stuck for a few seconds. Managing himself,

"Forever... Go to sleep... take rest without thinking anything... we will talk later" Arnav said without thinking.

Khushi nodded ok slowly.

"Good night" Arnav walked out.

Khushi stood looking at him without blinking. Who was he? What was the connection between him and her? Nothing. Then, why was he showering concern on her? What would have happened if Arnav had not been there for her? She would have become a prey of a hawk called Shyam. Khushi didn't know how to pay back to Arnav because she didn't think, anything could compensate for it. How sweetly he came to her house and waited for her outside...! He could have done that only if he had felt the depth of her problem deep in his heart.

Khushi lay on the bed and closed her eyes. She could not sleep as she was thinking about Arnav the whole night. She was worried about her sister too. She didn't know what will be her sister's condition tomorrow morning. By God's grace, Shyam should not harm Anjali and Shali. Anjali would think Khushi went to Delhi to join in the job. Maybe, Shyam would go to Delhi to search for her. Who cared? Let him roam like a beggar. An immoral man like him would not get anything that he wanted. Dot know when would he go back to work. Khushi was thinking about all this and didn't get sleep.

But Arnav slept peacefully... like ever before. He was satisfied as he could save a girl's life. He lost his sleep completely when he got to know Shyam was back in India and Khushi was going to stay in the same house with him. He had never felt his heartbeat so fast before. He didn't know why her condition affected him so much. Maybe, very soon he will realize the reason for his unknown feelings.

The next morning

Nani came to the living room as usual and called Hari Prakash to bring tea. She was stunned, seeing Khushi bringing tea for her.

"Khushiiiii... you? You came to RM?" she asked excitedly.

"Arnavji brought me, Naniji" she served the tea.

"Chotte brought you? when?"

"Last night, 1'o clock"

"Midnight 1'o clock? Really? Did you call him?"

"He was waiting outside the house for my call, Naniji... even I don't know he was there," Khushi said feeling grateful.

Nani was amazed. Arnav was waiting outside her house for the whole night for her call. Was he expecting her call? Or, he himself wanted to call her? Did he do it only to save his FRIEND? What was Arnav feeling for Khushi was only friendship?

"I didn't expect Arnavji will be there... you have no idea how tense I was..." Fear was visible in her voice.

Cutting her,

"Did your Jeeja do anything?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"I was scared Naniji... he is not a human... he is a beast... heartless beast..." she said angrily.

"What did he do?"

"He... intimidated me..."

"Intimidated?"

"He directly asked me to sleep with him shamelessly, Naniji... he gave me one day to decide. He said I have no one to be protected. So, I have no choice other than obeying him" Khushi said gritting her teeth.

Nani touched her shoulder in a consoling manner.

"I was so furious, Naniji. I so wanted to take Arnavji to him and say, see... I too have someone to protect me" She panted hard.

Nani was about to say something but stopped, seeing Arnav standing on the stairs listening to her. He gulped down listening to her.

"You can take Chotte to him if you want... am I right, Chotte?" Nani asked.

Khushi looked at Arnav who was advancing them. She stood up from the couch smiling.

"Where are you going?" Arnav asked.

"To bring you tea"

"You no need to do that... I will ask Hari Prakash. You sit..."

"Why should not I do that? Didn't you say, I'm not a guest?"

Arnav nodded yes that made Nani flabbergasted. If Khushi was not a guest, then who was she? Why Arnav was taking care of Khushi? was that only CARE or something more than that? He never cared for anyone... then why only Khushi? Was it because she was his friend or he was doing that in the disguising of a FRIEND? In fact, he never considered anyone as his friend. Let's see, what would he do in the upcoming days. His actions would give the answer whether it was just a CARE or something more than that. Maybe, what Arnav felt for Khushi must be priceless. Nani smiled slightly.

Khushi went to the kitchen to bring him tea.

"When did you go to her house, Chotte?" Nani asked.

"I was there for the whole night, Nani. How could I sleep when she was in danger?" though he said that without having any expression on his face Nani sensed a kind of tension in his voice.

"Anyhow, you brought her to RM... as of now, it's enough"

Arnav nodded yes. Nani smiled inwardly. As of now, it was enough... who knew what would happen in the mere future?

Shali Villa

Anjali woke up from her sleep as usual and started her regular routine. She saw the door being unlocked. She frowned, seeing it. Preparing coffee, she brought it to Khushi's room. She was about to knock on the door, but she stopped as it was not closed. She pushed the door and saw the tidy bed. She thought Khushi would be in the washroom. She came to the washroom and knocked on the door while calling Khushi.

"Khushiiii... Khushiiiii..."

She didn't get any response from the washroom. She opened the door and looked inside. The washroom was completely dry. It didn't seem, like, it was used recently. Anjali came out and checked in on the terrace. As she didn't find Khushi there, she came out of the house and searched outside. She became nervous about not finding her anywhere. Taking her mobile, she dialed her number. But her mobile was switched off. She didn't see Khushi's number in the incoming list because Shyam deleted them.

Rushing to her room, Anjali woke up Shyam.

"Shyamji... wake up..."

"Why, Rani Sahiba? Let me sleep for a while..." he covered himself with a quilt.

"Shyamji, Khushi is not seen at home," she said panicking.

"Whaaat?" He pulled the quilt down and sat on the bed jerking.

"She is nowhere at home. Her phone is switched off. Don't know where did she go" She cried.

"Did you check thoroughly?" He came out of the room and checked all over the house once again.

He was frustrated like hell.

"I think she left the house to go to Delhi..."

Shyam was horrified. He knew why Khushi would have taken such a decision. He thought he should have hurried. She would not have taken such a decision if he had been smooth with her. Anjali looked at him wrathfully.

"Because of you, my sister left our house... You asked HIV report from the groom and stopped her wedding. Adding to it, you are not ready to send her to Delhi. If you didn't force her, she would be with me. Who are you to take the decision about her life? You are her Jeeja. You should have known your limit. But you crossed your limit... I don't know what will you do. My sister should be here in two days. Or else, I don't know what I will do" Anjali sneered which was unexpected to Shyam.

Anjali went to her room. Shyam frowned seeing her getting ready.

"Where are you going Rani Sahiba?"

"Where else? I'm going to the Police Station to file a missing complaint"

"Wait... I will also come with you..."

"No thanks..." Not waiting for him, Anjali started rushing out.

Shyam clutched her hand.

"Raini Sahiba, wait... the police will question me if you go to the police station alone... this is a sensitive matter... don't do anything in haste"

Anjali gulped down hard.

"Is it necessary to file a case?" Shyam asked.

"What rubbish are you asking?" Anjali howled.

"The police will arrow many intolerable questions... we can't answer them"

"I can answer them because I didn't do anything wrong"

Shyam gulped hard. What if his deeds came out in the investigation? He must be careful while talking to the police. He supposed.

To be continued...